Wake...Sing...

Meta-Phys Ed. presents this new performance work, based on Clifford Odets' depression era drama 'Awake and Sing!' but with zombies. More…

Meta-Phys Ed. creates original performance works that explore the relationship between religion, spirituality, culture, and politics; often drawing inspiration from sacred and classical text. In
'Wake...Sing...' they employ both both biblical stories about the resurrection of the dead, and zombie flicks, in their exploration of Odets' classic.

See it if
you have a high tolerance for theater experimentation -- & only if you have.

Don't see it if
you want to see a play with dialogue throughout & recognizable characters in dramatic situations.

Also
I’m glad I saw this production, but then, I’m a fan of experimental theater. This piece takes its cue from the fact that the biblical quotation from which Clifford Odets took his title for "Awake & Sing" describes the dead rising to usher in a messianic era. For much of the piece, 3 ragged actors, initially embedded in a mylar-covered mound of earth (along with a few newspapers) struggle to emerge & stand. This happens through a few distinct phases of muted electronic music, the first accompanied by a roving saxophone player who almost seems the Gabriel who is summoning these creatures to wake. But these are really primitive beings, waking up takes a while, phrases begin to emerge from the recorded music, shards of "Awake & Sing" that the actors pick up. By the end, our primitives, almost human, are almost acting full stretches of drama. I’ll be keeping an eye on this outfit for future offerings.... Read moreRead less

See it if
you enjoy 3 actors rise from pile of dirt for 40 minutes, vomit regularly, then start speaking Odets text about 70 minutes in without irony?

Don't see it if
you have no patience 4 experimentally posing performance pieces or zombie theater where zombies heal themselves to eventually speak cogently

Also
Reminded me of experiencing a 1968 Stuart Gordon [RE-ANIMATOR] directed textless version of Titus Andronicus with the entire story acted out without words, with lots of blood, vomit [the pies...] and violence in the ruins of the old Journalism bldg at UW-Madison. There were no zombies however, as those who were killed off stayed dead... Read moreRead less

See it if
You enjoy dance & performance art. You like physical acting. You want captivating performers in an intimate space.

Don't see it if
You're expecting anything traditional: staging, plot, choreography, dialogue. You don't like performance art or experimental theatre.

Also
This is a series of intentionally, slow moving tableaux that tells a story through movement. It's a performance where nothing happens, yet everything happens. What really sells the play are the actors, who were always fascinating to watch.... Read moreRead less

See it if
you like performance art, more questions than answers, committed actors.

Don't see it if
you want a story and action, to understand what the cast is saying literally & figuratively.

Also
The piece started intriguingly with moody music and performers slowly attempting to rise. Was this the birth of civilization? Post-apocalyptic rebirth? But the rising went on way too long. The video portion dragged on unintelligibly and made me wonder if the producer obtained the rights to the footage. Wasted potential.... Read moreRead less